Posted on 01/17/2005 8:48:26 AM PST by missyme
Bangalore, Jan 16: The proposed ‘Pray for India’ programme later this week by American evangelist, Mr Benny Hinn has sparked a controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Sangh parivar organisations up in arms against it, dubbing it as one that’s intended to promote religious conversion.
The Florida-based pastor, who claims to have the power to heal the sick and dying, is slated to attend the three-day prayer meeting from January 21 at Jakkur Airfield here which has been touted by the organisers as a big show, saying lakhs of people from across the country are expected to attend it.
The event has drawn strong opposition from the BJP, the Bajrang Dal and the Hindu Jagarana Vedike who see it as a conspiracy to convert the poor and vulnerable sections to Christianity.
The Bajrang Dal has already announced that 10,000 people would stage a demonstration at the venue. Vedike activists yesterday burnt publicity material of the proposed congregation. In fact, hoardings, banners and posters are now dotting various parts of the city.
Speaking to reporters here today, the Opposition BJP Leader in the legislative assembly, Mr B S Yediyurappa sought to take the state government to task for granting permission to hold the event at Jakkur Airfield, which is “sensitive” from the defence and security viewpoint.
Mr Yediyurappa termed as “unpardonable crime” and “insult to Hindus”, the circulation of pamphlets by organisers of the event criticising idol worship.
“Is the event not a conspiracy to convert people?,” he asked.
Accusing the organisers of promoting “wrong propaganda” that Mr Hinn is a “godman”, Mr Yediyurappa asked the government to reconsider its permission to the prayer meeting at Jakkur.
He said Hindus would voluntarily protest the event.
The Chief Minister, Mr N Dharam Singh has already stated that the government would not take any step to stop the programme, saying the administration cannot interfere with religious events.
Defending the convention, the organisers have said it is being conducted with “noble intention”. During his previous visit to Mumbai last year he did not speak anything about conversion or anything that affects the people’s religious sentiments, they said.
There are reports that Chief Ministers of some Congress-ruled states are likely to attend the meet. Mr Yediyurappa said while the government did not allow conduct of certain rituals at the Hindu-Muslim shrine at Bababudangiri Hills in Chikmagalur district late last year and amassed police force to enforce its decision, it’s now “organising and arranging” Mr Hinn’s programme.
Renowned Kannada litterateur and Jnanapeeth award winner, U R Ananthamurthy has cautioned Mr Dharam Singh against associating himself with the prayer meeting.
“The Chief Minister should not identify himself with this mass hysteria. We should not encourage this (mass hysteria),” Ananthamurthy said.
The police have said they have made elaborate security arrangements for the event.
I can't visually deal with the blonde wig on that woman that hangs with him. She out-Tammy Fayes Tammy Faye.
Grapevine, Texas.
Well, I look at it differently than you. I believe that God can use man to perform His work here. I do not believe that God's days of miracles are over or that they ended with the last of the apostles. I do not place my "trust" in those "heretic hunter" sites either. I believe that those folks take a lot of what is said out of context and use it against others. I and many others that I know have been to one of Hinn's crusades. His emphasis is on salvation and healing. I have heard this man tell people not to stop taking their medications until their physician verifies their healing. I have never heard him claim to heal anyone but rather give glory to Jesus for healings that take place. As for the offerings, I have seen him take offerings for people in the "audience". I mean I have seen him collect hundreds and hundreds of dollars and give it away right on the spot. I am not going to mock this man because of his hair or the hairstyle of the company that he keeps. I believe that God will deal with him IF he is a fake in a manner far harsher than what any man could do to him through mockery and words. And, IF he isn't a fake, where are those who mock him going to stand?
The Bible says that a church leader should be above reproach and not be a lover of money. I don't think anyone can look at his lifestyle and say he is above reproach on this matter.
I'm sorry you've even seen him.
Please don't associate him, in any way, with Christianity.
Dan
I don't. He would little more than a pathetic joke if he wasn't so busy defrauding those who want to believe in what he is selling.
I've seen plenty like him in my time. I lived three miles from Oral Roberts University and was in town when Oral did his 900-foot Jesus sales pitch. And he was a piker compared to Hinn.
Let me know when he goes into children's cancer wards and burn units and lays on some of that 'healing.'
At the end of the day, Pat Robertson opens his books. Hinn doesn't. 'nuff said.
"Hinn is an heretic and a fraud."
...well put - and absolutely true...
I did a Spiritual 3 day fast which he: Benny Hinn explained in details Scriptually and through prayer on one of his Internet Sites for some very personal and physical healings I needed from GOD and without a doubt it works!!
The truth of the lack of equality and balance of time and effort spent between the acts of soul saving and miraculous healings is likely the result of there being more money more readily available due to more curiousity seeking people interested in the miraculous exibitions that they can actually see than those who are more interested in the internal change which is vastly more important, and just as miraculous, in the eternal existence of those who are being saved which these curiousity only seeking attendees cannot visibly experience!
That is no showmanship required on the part of the recipient or the presenter!
And as crass as it might seem the old adage could be applicable, follow the money!
Amen. Benny will be one of those who says, "We cast out demons and healed the sick in your name." We all know the response: "Depart from me, I never knew you."
He is part of a growing group of buffoons that predict orthodox Christianity will turn on their buffoonery.
Grab him by the forehead and slam him to the ground!
And...?
So, what did you make of all the detailed, , documented analysis in the links PresbyRev gave you?
Dan
God, who spoke into existance all of creation, can only fix me if I sincerely believe.
So I guess if I refuse to believe in hell I can be as bad as I want to be?
If GOD wants to restore a limb, it will be done. It's not up to the healing evangelist, no matter who it is, to decide these things. God heals the sick, using people as His conduit. Hinn has visions. That doesn't mean he's into necromancy, speaking to the dead. Many spirit-filled Christians get visions or dreams. It's NOT talking to the dead as in seances, etc. There IS a difference. I'm not sticking up for Hinn because I don't know how sincere he is, but I do know enough about dreams and visions and healing to know that these things are real and not 'of the devil' as so many fundamentalists believe.
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